Meriden Police Seize Assault Rifles, Arrest 3 In Massive Bust

MERIDEN, CT — A recent police operation took numerous guns off the street and resulted in three arrests. According to police, the following items were seized: an SKS rifle, a Mossberg 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun, a polymer 80 9mm handgun, an AR15 rifle, numerous high-capacity firearm magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, tactical body armor, and about eight ounces of marijuana.

Nicholas Rivera, 22, of 58 Round Hill Road in Meriden, was charged with two counts of possession of an assault weapon, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a controlled substance, third-degree larceny, and interfering with police.

He was held on $750,000 bond.

Calvin Fassett, 20, of 73 Parker Road in Meriden, was charged with two counts of possession of an assault weapon, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, criminal possession of body armor, possession of a large-capacity magazine, criminal possession of ammunition, criminal possession of a pistol, possession of a controlled substance, third-degree larceny, and interfering with police.

He was held on $1,000,000 bond.

Diego Garro, 19, of 81 Chatam St. in New Haven, was charged with two counts of possession of an assault weapon, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a controlled substance, third-degree larceny, and interfering with police.

He was held on $1,000,000 bond.

The police said the following in a statement: "The Meriden Police Department and the New Haven Police Department want to send a clear message that gun violence will not be tolerated in our City’s. We are doing our part to make them a safer place to visit and live. This operation could not have taken place without the joint efforts between our law enforcement agencies and the citizens of our City’s. We recognize that this goes beyond the law enforcement team and encourage all citizens to keep up the great work and partnership that we have established with you. We would also like to thank the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office for the continued support of our efforts, especially in these serious and multi-jurisdictional investigations."